Atlanta Braves players have just begun reporting for spring camp, but the injuries are following the players to camp, it seems. Within the first few days, Spencer Schwellenbach is already dealing with an elbow injury that will keep him out for the first two months, at least, of the MLB season.
A new development in Braves camp is Hurston Waldrep being shut down from throwing due to loose bodies in his right elbow, which might require surgery. He is visiting with Dr. Keith Meister this week to determine if he needs surgery. If he does, it will be bad news for the Braves and Waldrep.
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Hurston Waldrep Could Miss Three Months Dealing with Elbow Impairment
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, if Keith Meister determines that Hurston Waldrep needs surgery to remove the loose bodies, he will miss three months. If Waldrep doesn’t need surgery, he will need about three weeks of rest before throwing again. That’s a drastic difference in injury return timeline.
A decision has not been made yet, but it’s coming this week. There’s also a possibility that if Waldrep does not get surgery, he will still start the season on the injured list.
GettyHurston Waldrep could be on the outside looking in when it comes to Atlanta’s 2026 roster.
Due to the Braves’ influx of injuries in the starting rotation last season, Waldrep got his first taste of MLB action, played well in his opportunity, and was one of the bright spots for Atlanta’s disappointing season in ’25.
With the Spencer Schwellenbach news, that pushes every Braves starter up one spot, aside from Chris Sale, who is the team’s ace.
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Waldrep’s Success with the Braves; Other Spring Training Notes
Originally a first-round draft pick out of the University of Florida in 2023, Waldrep swiftly made his way through the Braves organization.
In 2025, he posted a 2.88 ERA over 56.1 innings en route to a 6-1 pitching record. In the dog days of the Braves’ season, Waldrep had been the only dependable arm and put himself in a great position to be a part of the 2026 Braves’ rotation.
While this injury might be a slight setback, Waldrep will likely still be depended on at some point during the season, and it’s important to note he’s still just 23 years of age and still has a lot of time to develop into a stronger, more polished arm.
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Report: Braves Get New Update on Hurston Waldrep Elbow Injury